Brief case



B. CHARSKY.

BRIEF CASE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.2. 1921.

1,%9% 1 5%., ented Aug. 1, 1922.

WENT (4 Mmu I ATTORNEY 1 County, cit New York, as invented new and useful Imuunn earns aren't" BENJAMIN OHARSKY, 015" NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO MOOHAR LEATHER GOODS CORPORATION, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AOORBORATION 015" NEW YORK.

narnr casn inc ines Specification of Letters Patent.

retreated na i, ices,

Application filed November 2, 1921, serial No. 512,267.-

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that BENJAMIN CHAIESKIY, a subject of Russia, and residing in Kings of New York, and State of provements in Brief Cases, of which the following is a specification. 7

My present invention relates generally to expansible containers and more partlcularly to an arrangement for reinforcing the corners of such containers.

T have illustrated and ,described my invention as used in connection with a brief case, as it is this character of construction, for which my invention was particularly developed and is particularly intended, although as will be understood my invention can be used with other devices wherein it can function as it does in connection with a brief case. W

The type of container for loose papers, used by professional men, and termed a br1ef case, is generally constructed of two cover or backing members connected by an expansible bellows like gusset, and has its interior partitioned to form a number of compartments.

Because of the manner in which this gusset is secured to the outer or cover members, and the way in which it is used, the brief case is generally subject to the great strains and wear and tear at the lower corners of both front and back cover members.

Among the objects of this invention therefore is the provision of a reinforce for such lower corners which is so associated with the brief case as to make provision for th s particular type of construction in which a bellows action is present, and WlllOh is so constructed as to avoid any interference with such action and any other defect in operation or use; and the provision of a wear piece for the brief case which w1ll reduce consideiably the wear and tear upon the parts most likely subject to such action.

For-the purpose of' attalning these ObJGCtS and such other objects as may appear or be pointed out, in the description, li'have provided a construction, one embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein-- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a lower corner of a brief case partly expanded;

Figure 2 is a view of one corner with parts broken away;

Figure 3 .a view in section through part of a corner with the gusset expanded;

Figure 4 is a View in elevation of a reinforcing member for a corner;

Figure 5 is a view of the form the reinforce;

Figure 6 is a view of an end fragment of the reinforcing member to illustrate the method of forming it; 1

Figure 7 is a view in perspective of portion of a corner to show the action of portion of the gusset. y

Brief cases of the kind illustrated in the drawings, comprise generally the outer or cover members 10 and 11 made preferably of a sheet material such as leather with the gusset portion 12 intermediate the two. This lntermedlate gusset portion 12 is made preferably 'of a relatively soft sheet material such assoft leather and is shaped shown, with vthe side walls 13 (only one is shown in the folded, thus in effect produclng the bellows action, which permits of the expansion and contraction of the container. The gusset portion 12 is secured to the cover members 10 and 11 by having the end portions 13 and 14 of both the end and side walls 13 and 14 folded into parallelism vwith the outer walls 10 and 11 and secured thereto preferably by the rows of vertical and "horizontal stitches 16 and 17 respectively. x

In making brief cases in the manner outlined above, there is formed at the meeting edges of the walls 13 and 14, the substantially triangular overlapped portions shown in the drawings, and in expanding the brief case if have found that in addition to the strain ut on the rows of stitches l6and 17 generally, there is an even greater strain placed on the corners where the stitches 16 and 17 meet and cross due to the action of these overlapped portions 18. These strains stamping to the fact that the user frequently rests the brief case with its lowermost portion on the floor or similar base which furthermore tends to cause the superposed'parts of the Figure 4 of the drawings shows the reinan forcing element which I secure to each of the lower corners of the brief case two such corners being shown in Figure 1. This reinforcing element, referred to generally by the reference character 19, is preferably made of a fairly stiff sheet metal material stamped into the shape shown.

Each of the members 19 is L shaped for reasons that will be obvious and is the form of a channel member, the channel 19' being defined by the side walls 20 and 21 and by an end or bottom wall. The wall 21 is made substantially narrower than the wall 20 and is still further narrowed as shown at 23 adjacent thecurved elbow portion 24 of the channel member 19', all for purposes that will shortly be pointed out. One of the walls preferably the wall 21 is provided with the prongs 25, each'leg being illustrated in the drawings as having two such prongs.

Upon viewing Figure l of the drawings it will be seen that each reinforcing member is secured in position on a corner of the brief case, with the overlapping portions of the walls of the gusset and of the adjacent end or outer member 10*or 11 received in the channel 19'. Upon viewing Figures 1, 2 and 3 it will be observed that the wall 20 is positioned on the outside of the brief case and is of a width to cover the adjacent stitches 16 and 17, whereas the wall 21 is on the inside and its width is such that it does not reach or cover up the stitches. As a result of this arrangement, any cutting tendency by the outer free edge of the wall 21 is avoided when the gusset is expanded as can be seen from Figure 3 of the drawing. The further end as attained that the expansion of the gusset 12 will not tend to pull upon the wall 21 to cause a spreading action between this wall and the wall 20. Upon viewing Figure 1 it will be further observed that the narrowed portion 23 is positioned and receives within the cut out formed.

thereb the outer end part of the overlapped portion 18 previously referred to, so that no interference occurs at this point between the reinforcing element 19 and this flap when the flap moves angularly, with the contraction and expansion of the gusset member.

In assembling the reinforcing members on the brief case, the prongs 25 are driven into wall 21 which is described and shown as falling short of the stitches 16 and 17, it is obvious that these prongs will be outside of the stitches, so t at they will on. the one hand, not weaken the material of the gusset inside the stitches by forming a lineof tear inside the stitches, but will on the other hand form a secondar means for connecting:1 the gusset 12 to t e outer members 10 I referably form the channel members 19 in the manner illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. The blanks 29 are stamped from the sheet of material 30, and are shapedas shown in heavy outline in. Figure 5. The dotted lines 34 and 35 indicate the lines along which the blank 29 is bent to form the walls of the channel member 19, the portion 31 forming the wall 20,-the portion 32' forming the wall 21, and the portion 33 forming the end wall 22. Upon viewing Figure 5 it 32 at the point 36 is narrowest widening'out in both directions until the full normal width of the part 32 is reached. When the blank 29 is folded along the lines 34 and 35, the narrowed'portion at 36 of the blank in Figure 5 becomes the cut away portion 23 in Figure 4 of the finished article.

When the brief case constructed as described above, is placed on a desk or floor, the metal corner pieces will act as spacing members, and thus avoid the greater part of the wear and tear that arises from such contact.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire by Letters Patent is- 1. A channel member adapted to be placed about a lower corner of a brief case comprising an L shaped channel member, sub stantially 'U shaped in cross section throughout, one leg of the U being narrower than the other and securing prongs on the outer edge of the shorter leg. I

2. A channel member adapted to be placed about a lower corner of a brief case comprising an L, shaped channel member, sub stantially U shaped in cross section through out, one leg of the U being narrower than the other and securing prongs on the outer edge of the shorter leg, said narrower leg being still further reduced in width adjacent the elbow of the L.

3. A channel member adapted to be secured about a lower corner of a brief case comprising an L shaped channel member, substantially U shaped in cross section throughout, one leg of the U being narrower than the other said narrower leg being still flfiltlll-fll' narrowed opposite the elbow of t e 4. In combination with a brief case comprising a back or outer cover member, an

aaaiaa brief case, said corner piece being in the form of a channelled l. with its cross section through the channel generally U shaped and receiving within it, the overlapped portions of the usset and cover member, one leg of said fbeing positioned on the outside and dimensioned to cover the aforementioned rows of stitches, said last mentioned 1e being narrowed adjacent the elbow of t e'lL, so as to permit free angular movement of said ridge of material.

5. In combination with a brief case comprising a back or outer cover member, an expanding gusset member having portions thereof secured thereto by rows of stitches, in overlapped relation along a side and bot:

tom of the brief case, and havin an overlap which produces a ridge of material leading to a lower corner of the brief case which ridge moves angularly as the brief case is expanded and contracted, of a corner piece arranged to be secured to said corner of the brief case said corner piece being in the form of a channelled L, with its cross section through the channel generally U- shaped and receiving within 1t, the overlapped portion 'of the gusset and cover member, one leg of said U being positioned on the outside and dimensioned to cover the aforementioned rows of stitches, the other leg of the U being on the inside and dime-nsioned to fall short of said rows of stitches, and being further provided with securing prongs on its outer edge, said last mentioned 1e being narrowed adjacent the el bow of t e 5., so as to permit free angular movement of said rid e of material.

In Witness whereo, I have hereunder signed my name this 29th day of Uctober,

BENJAMIN CHARSKY. 

